ISLAMABAD - The director general of Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is all set to get her lost powers of transfers and postings of higher grade officials back.
Besides, the DG has been authorised to send back additional directors working at the directorate. The powers were taken by the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CAD) from the DG Shehnaz A Riaz when she was appointed as DG on the directives of the Supreme Court after a long fought battle. She was left with the authority only to transfer or post grade 1 to 15 officials and had no authority over the principals of over 400 schools and colleges and directors working at the directorate. Now, according to officials, after the devolution of powers she would also be able to transfer or post officials from grade 16 to 21 and that will enable her to make a team to run the system of educational institutes.
According to information, the DG had written to the Ministry of CAD Secretary Shaigan Shareef that the powers be delegated to her back as the previous DGs had enjoyed the same powers and as the schools and colleges are subordinate offices of FDE so the directorate must have the powers to transfer any director or principal.
Though the decision has been taken in principal, it has not been notified yet. Hopefully, it will be notified next week, informed Ministry of CAD Secretary.
It was a general complaint that teaching or non-teaching staff find no one whenever they go to FDE as directors hardly sit on their seats and keep visiting ministry, said an official. “There are five sanctioned posts of directors in FDE but more than 10 directors are working and there is no output. They have agenda other than the cause of education. Empowerment of DG will reduce staff and increase efficiency.
She can transfer them in the best interest of the department.”
Rasheed Khan, President Central Academic Staff Association, appreciating the step said, “For our routine matters, we run between the offices of FDE and the Ministry for months as the situation is unclear who has the powers. The directorate should be empowered so that the day-to-day affairs of the teachers and administrative staff could be managed at the directorate level.”
Tahir Mahmood, President Federal Government College Teachers’ Association, also commended the move saying that ‘she will be able to make immediate decisions and the issues of the teachers will be resolved in short period of time’.